PUMPKIN SAFETY

Organizations remind people to be Bear Aware with Halloween pumpkins

Oct 22, 2021 | 3:45 PM

PRINCE GEORGE– One of the many things people love about the Halloween season is carving up pumpkins into spooky, funny, and creative designs and displaying them for the world to see.

However, those pumpkins can sometimes bring some unexpected Trick-or-Treaters to your door. As bears look to pack on calories before denning, the scent of a carved pumpkin on a front porch smells like a tasty snack to our fuzzy friends which could bring them right to your door.

This creates a risk to people’s safety so the Northern Bear Awareness Society and the Conservation Officer Service reminds you that during the night, you should bring all you’re jack-o-lanterns inside. Another option is to wait until Halloween to carve your pumpkins, to keep both your creations and the bears safe.

Although it is unlikely because of the high street activity, you could still see a bear while trick-or-treating on Halloween night. However, the best way to avoid that is to go out in groups and if you do end up seeing a bear, the best thing to do is not panic.

When Halloween is all said and done, the Northern Bear Awareness Society recommends disposing of your pumpkins by giving them to farmers for livestock or even trying to salvage some of them and turn them into some delicious recipes.

So make sure your only guest on Halloween night is a trick-or-treater and Be Bear Smart.